State Dept. approves potential missile sale to Poland

Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin will provide services for an Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System as part of a $10.5 billion contract.

By

James LaPorta

German soldiers assigned to Surface Air and Missile Defense Wing 1 fire the Patriot weapons system at the NATO Missile Firing Installation during Artemis Strike Nov. 7 in Chania, Greece. Photo By Officer Candidate Sebastian Apel/Air Defense Missile Group 24/U.S. Army

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale to Poland for an Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System with Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed-Martin being tapped to provide the services.

The deal, announced Friday by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, is worth $10.5 billion and requires Congressional approval before the contract is finalized. Members of Congress were notified of the potential foreign military sale on Nov. 14.

DSCA says the Government of Poland requested to purchase the advanced command-and-control system, which includes upgraded radar systems, control stations and 208 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, a surface-to-air missile system.

Officials also say the deal will come with additional "communications equipment, tools and test equipment, range and test programs, support equipment, prime movers, generators, publications and technical documentation, training equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training, Technical Assistance Field Team, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, Systems Integration and Checkout, field office support, and other related elements of logistics and program support."

The State Department said the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by supporting a NATO ally militarily, and will not alter the basic military balance of power and strength in the region.

Forty-two U.S. government representatives along with 55 contractors will be traveling to Poland for "equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout, training and technical and logistics support.